TV stations modify year-end program

JAKARTA (JP): The fasting month of Ramadhan, Christmas and New Year, which occur concurrently at the end of this year, have forced local TV stations to modify their year-end programming.

If in the past TV stations usually planned extensive programs for each of the events, this year most of them are reducing the proportion for each event.

Contacted separately by The Jakarta Post, the TV stations reacted differently to the situation with most of them agreeing to continue to air their Ramadhan programs during New Year and the Christmas period.

Admitting that the advertisement spots for SCTV's end of the year program has been sold, Uki Hastama, the station's public relations officer, said that the coincidence of the three events has impacted on the station's income.

"In previous years our clients had a separate budget for each category of Ramadhan, Christmas and New Year programs. Yet, it seems that this year they have combined all the three budgets into one," said Uki. He added that some of the advertisers, like producers of sarongs, have a distinct target audience in each Ramadhan season.

SCTV will air a musical each for Christmas and New Year. Christmas in the slum will be the theme of Natal Merah Putih (Red and White Christmas), a musical, which will feature child artists Rebecca Tumewu, Tika Panggabean, Ricki Johanes and child singer Joshua.

An off-beat musical Satoe Indonesia about a group of diverse characters stuck in an elevator will be aired by SCTV on New Year's Eve. The program will feature well-known singers Yana Julio and Reza.

Social differences will be the theme of the ANteve Christmas program this year. Reza, an up and coming singer, will appear in ANteve's musical Dua Gadis Cilik (Two little girls), which will be aired on Thursday and Friday. The story line will be about the friendship between Vina, a wealthy girl, with Asih, a street hawker. The musical will be directed by Harry Dagoe, who directed Mencari Pelangi, an award winning short feature film about the dreams of a shoe-shine boy, which will also be aired on Thursday.

ANteve will also air Bias Kasih, a musical about an encounter between a rich boy and a poor boy, on Friday. The musical will feature singers Rebecca Tumewu, Katon Bagaskara and Glen among others.

ANteve's human relations manager, Zoraya Perucha, said that they had not found any difficulty in selling advertisement spots since planning a year in advance had already anticipated the event sequence.

"Most of our programs for the end of the year will be produced in-house to reduce costs," said Theresia Ellasari, TPI's corporate communications manager.

TPI's program for Christmas Day on Friday will feature Kring O La La, a musical operetta, and Olesio Kasihnya, a Christmas carols program featuring Utha Likumahua and other local singers.

RCTI will air three programs for its Christmas package this year. Continuing its success with a children's short feature film Mikael last year, RCTI will produce Mikael 2, which will be aired on Thursday and Friday. The film is about Mikael, an angel who comes to earth from heaven to teach the meaning of Christmas to children.

With a star studded cast of Roy Marten, Moudy Wilhelmina, Rina Hasyim and Thomas Djorghi, Megah Dalam Kasih, to be aired on Thursday, will tell a story of a prosperous family on the edge of bankruptcy. Since Haryoto (Roy Marten)'s family has done good deeds in the past, the family's members blame each other for the family's run of bad luck. As Christmas is drawing closer, will the family reunite and celebrate the festival in peace?

Targeting a young audience, Sebab Tuhan Baik (Because God is Benevolent) will feature a mix of discussion and religious songs by Tamara Geraldine and singers Nugie, Dewi and Ricky Johannes.

In its Christmas program, Indosiar will air a musical with traditional Indonesian music. Through Potret Desember (December Portrait) it will feature the Christmas festivities in Immanuel Church, Central Jakarta. Moving around the central theme of street kids, the musical will feature Ruth Sahanaya and Harvey Malaiholo with ethnic music from Irian Jaya and Sulawesi.

Along with SCTV and RCTI, Indosiar will air Christmas Mass from the Vatican on Friday.

While RCTI is yet to confirm its New Year program with ANteve, TPI and Indosiar only featuring films, all of the stations will air a kaleidoscope of the year's important events. (46)